Planning Commission Meeting Update

October 28, 2009                   Wednesday                             7:00 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

ROLL CALL:      Commissioners Michael Boswell, Michael Draze, Eric Meyer, Airlin Singewald, Mary Whittlesey, Vice-Chairperson Michael Multari, and Chairperson Charles Stevenson 

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:  Staff communication was moved to the front of the agenda directly after consideration of the minutes. 

MINUTES:  Minutes of October 14, 2009, were approved as presented.   

PUBLIC COMMENT:  There were no comments made by the public. 

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

1.     2410 Johnson Avenue.  AP-PC 78-09:  Appeal of hearing officer’s decision to allow a three-lot subdivision; R-1 zone; Joe Boud & Nancy Shokohi, appellants.  (James David)

James David, project planner, provided a summary of the proposed three-lot subdivision project and the Hearing Officer’s action.  Mr. David summarized the appellants’ points and provided staff’s responses and recommended denial of the appeal.  The Planning Commission had several questions of Mr. David and of  Doug Davidson, the Hearing Officer. 

Joe Boud, an appellant, provided testimony related to slope, building envelopes, setbacks, driveway and fire access, usability of proposed lot 1, neighborhood controversy, and grading issues. 

Jeff Wagner, representative for Spevak, spoke to the conformity of the proposed lots with ordinance standards and the additional conditions that were agreed to in an effort to address neighborhood concerns.

Barbara Boud, Maureen Eyermann, Nancy Shokohi, and Scott Killian spoke against the project and urged the Commission to eliminate parcel 1 or deny the project. 

The Planning Commission discussed the project at length. 

On a motion by Vice-Chair Multari, seconded by Commissioner Boswell, the Planning Commission voted 5:2 (Commrs. Draze and Whittlesey opposed) to deny the appeal and approve the project subject to revised conditions #2 and #3. 

2.     Orcutt Area.  GP/SP/ER 209-98:  Review of Chapter 8, Public Facilities Financing, of the Draft Orcutt Area Specific Plan; Barbara Parsons, applicant.  (Michael Codron)

Commissioner Airlin Singewald recused himself due to his recent purchase of a unit within the Laurel Creek project where a reimbursement agreement with the OASP may pose a potential conflict of interest.  The City Attorney will research the issue and report back.

Commissioner Boswell recused himself due to a potential conflict of interest related to professional work his spouse conducted for the property in the past.

Michael Codron, project planner, summarized the efforts to date to develop a financing plan that is both responsive to owners’ concerns regarding overall cost and consistent with General Plan policies for improvements and assignment of costs.  Mr. Codron indicated where changes had been made to the first version of the plan and where additional information related to park improvements still needs to be added.  He recommended that the Commission direct staff to add the financing plan as Chapter 8 in the OASP and bring back resolutions to approve the plan and the EIR to the City Council.

Mike Cannon, applicant owner representative, raised issues of percent of payment responsibility for the Orcutt Road widening and also indicated the owners’ objection to inclusion of the bike bridge in the plan.

Jim Smith, owner, urged the Commission to move the project forward and also urged elimination of the bike bridge.

Phil Gray, owner, urged elimination of the bike bridge.

Patti Taylor, owner, submitted a letter to the Commission and indicated that the changing process made her uncomfortable and that she and others no longer wish to participate.

Jean Helphenstine, owner, requested a correction to the minutes from June 2008 that were included as an attachment to the staff report.  She does not support inclusion of the bike bridge and urged the Commission to move the project forward.

Tim Bochum, Public Works Deputy Director, responded to some of the traffic and facility costs questions.

The Planning Commission discussed the bike bridge at length and requested clarification of several issues.  On a motion by Vice-Chair Multari and seconded by Commissioner Draze, the Commission voted 5:0 to bring back the final financing plan on December 10^th for final recommendation to the Council, leaving the bike bridge as part of the project at this time. 

COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 

3.            Staff 

a.   Agenda Forecast – Staff provided an agenda forecast for the November 12^th hearing and requested Commission direction on a date for the December meeting.  The Commissioners indicated that they would be available on December 10^th for a regularly-scheduled meeting rather than December 9^th which conflicts with a City-sponsored function. 

4.     Commission – Commissioner Draze indicated he will not be present for the November 12^th Commission hearing.  Commissioner Whittlesey indicated she may also be absent on November 12^th. 

ADJOURNMENT – Meeting adjourned at 10:35 p.m.

Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Planning Commission regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection in the Community Development, 919 Palm Street, during normal business hours.